Biological Systematics: History and Theory (Species and Systematics)

This volume reviews the historical roots and theoretical foundations of biological systematics in an approachable text. The author outlines the structure and main tasks of systematics. Conceptual history is characterized as a succession of scientific revolutions. The philosophical foundations of systematic research are briefly reviewed as well as the structure and content of taxonomic theories. Most important research programs in systematics are outlined. The book includes analysis of the principal problematic issues as "scientific puzzles" in systematics. This volume is intended for professional taxonomists, biologists of various specialties, students, as well as all those interested in the history and theory of biology and natural sciences. Key Features * Considers the conceptual history of systematics as the framework of evolutionary epistemology * Builds a hierarchically organized quasi-axiomatic system of taxonomic theory * Contends that more reductionist taxonomic concepts are less objective * Supports taxonomic pluralism by non-classic philosophy of science as a normal condition of systematics * Documents that "taxonomic puzzles" result from conflict between monistic and pluralistic attitudes Related Titles de Queiroz, K. et al., eds. __Phylonyms: A Companion to the PhyloCode__ (ISBN 978-1-1383-3293-5) Sigwart, J. D. __What Species Mean: A User's Guide to the Units of Biodiversity__ (ISBN 978-1-4987-9937-9) Rieppel, O. __Phylogenetic Systematics: Haeckel to Hennig__ (ISBN 978-1-4987-5488-0) Wilkins, J. S. __Species: The Evolution of the Idea__, 2nd ed. (ISBN 978-1-1380-5574-2) This volume reviews the historical roots and theoretical foundations of biological systematics in an approachable text. The author outlines the structure and main tasks of systematics. Conceptual history is characterized as a succession of scientific revolutions. The philosophical foundations of systematic research are briefly reviewed as well as the structure and content of taxonomic theories. Most important research programs in systematics are outlined. The book includes analysis of the principal problematic issues as â••scientific puzzlesâ•• in systematics. This volume is intended for professional taxonomists, biologists of various specialties, students, as well as all those interested in the history and theory of biology and natural sciences.Key Features Considers the conceptual history of systematics as the framework of evolutionary epistemologyBuilds a hierarchically organized quasi-axiomatic system of taxonomic theoryContends that more reductionist taxonomic concepts are less objectiveSupports taxonomic pluralism by non-classic philosophy of science as a normal condition of systematicsDocuments that "taxonomic puzzles" result from conflict between monistic and pluralistic attitudes Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Information 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Epigraph 6 Table of contents 8 Preface 12 Introduction 14 1 A Brief Introduction to Systematics 16 1.1 What Is the Natural System? 17 1.2 What Is Biological Systematics? 19 1.2.1 The Structure of Systematics 20 1.2.2 What Does Systematics Study? 23 1.2.3 How Does Systematics Study? 24 1.2.4 Why Does Systematics Study? 25 2 Conceptual History of Systematics 28 2.1 Some Preliminary Considerations 29 2.1.1 How a Conceptual History of Systematics Can Be Written 30 2.1.2 History of Systematics as an Evolutionary Process 31 2.1.3 Major Stages of the Conceptual History of Systematics 32 2.2 Prehistory of Systematics 35 2.2.1 An Initial Step: Folk Systematics 35 2.2.2 Becoming Aware of the Method 38 2.2.3 The Herbal Epoch 46 2.3 The Beginning of Systematics: Scholastic Revolution 49 2.3.1 Major Features 50 2.3.2 Major Stages 54 2.4 Emergence of Biological Systematics: Anti-Scholastic Revolution 61 2.4.1 Major Non-Scholastic Motives 64 2.4.2 The Natural Systematics 70 2.4.3 The Origin of Typology 73 2.4.4 “Taxonomic Esotericism” 77 2.5 A Step Forward: Evolutionary Revolution 80 2.5.1 First Ideas 82 2.5.2 First Debates 85 2.6 A Step Aside: Positivist Revolution 86 2.7 Homage to Metaphysics: Post-Positivist Revolution 89 3 Some Philosophical Considerations 94 3.1 Classical and Non-Classical Science 94 3.2 Cognitive Situation 96 3.2.1 Cognitive Triangle 97 3.2.2 Conceptual Space 98 3.2.3 Conceptual Pyramid 100 3.3 Some Cognitive Regulators 101 3.3.1 Between Umgebung and Umwelts 101 3.3.2 Between Holism and Reductionism 103 3.3.3 Between Realism and Nominalism 105 3.3.4 Between Monism and Pluralism 107 3.4 Knowledge as an Information Model 109 3.5 The Logical Bases 111 3.6 Argumentation Schemes 114 3.7 Methodologies and Methods 118 3.7.1 Scientific Status of Methodologies and Methods 119 3.7.2 Basic Methods 121 4 An Outline of Taxonomic Theory 124 4.1 Taxonomic Theory as a Quasi-Axiomatics 125 4.1.1 General and Particular Taxonomic Theories 126 4.1.2 Basic Quasi-Axioms and Principles 128 4.2 Defining Basic Notions: Two Case Studies 130 4.2.1 Taxonomic Reality 130 4.2.2 Classification System 133 5 Major Research Programs in Systematics 136 5.1 The Phenetic Program 139 5.2 Rational Systematics 143 5.2.1 The Onto-Rational Program 144 5.2.2 The Episto-Rational Program 146 5.3 The Numerical Program 147 5.3.1 Major Features 148 5.3.2 Two Basic Versions 151 5.3.3 Basic Controversies 154 5.4 The Typological Program 156 5.4.1 Major Features 157 5.4.2 Contemporary Developments 159 5.5 The Biomorphic Program 161 5.6 The Biosystematic Program 164 5.7 The Phylogenetic Program 167 5.7.1 Major Features 167 5.7.2 Evolutionary Taxonomy 172 5.7.3 Cladistic Systematics 174 5.8 The Evolutionary Ontogenetic Program? 181 6 Taxonomic Puzzles 184 6.1 Between Natural and Artificial Classifications 185 6.2 Between Taxon and Character 188 6.3 Hierarchies: To Rank or Not to Rank? 191 6.4 Between Similarity and Kinship 195 6.5 What Is the (Arche)Type? 200 6.6 Homology, an Unresolved Problem 202 6.7 An Undiscoverable Essence of Species? 208 References 216 Index 266 This book presents the theoretical foundations of the biological systematics. The history, structure and main tasks of systematics are summarized. Briefly reviewed are the philosophical foundations of systematics and the structure and content of taxonomic theories.